The Crucifixion of Jesus
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
Many of you reading this will have reached for painkillers when some ache in your body or head has become too much to bear. Oh the bliss, when after a few minutes the pain begins to abate.
Not for Jesus, he went through the pain and humiliation of His Passion on the Cross - raw and naked.
He refused the drugged wine offered to him on a sponge, which would have dulled the agony of writhing on the rough wood, gasping for each breath.
Why would he do this? Surely a bit of comfort would have been permissible?
No! It had to be that way - an absolutely undiluted punishment for the sins of the whole wide world was needed. So deep, so utterly exposed and desolate was the suffering in answer to all the depths of depravity that had to be paid for.
He took the whole vile weight of sins, past present and future into his wounded, betrayed and rejected body, soul and spirit.
"Amazing love, how can it be" - says the old hymn - "that You, my God, should die for me!"
Next time you take a painkiller, remember how Jesus went through the raw pain in order to save us! Turn a negative into positive praise....
Jesus is worthy!
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